Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Suzanne Driessen, Extension Educator — Food Safety

Reviewed 2014 by Kathy Brandt, Extension Educator — Food Safety.

Many home and office refrigerators contain leftover food. Leftover food can be a convenient next meal. Before reheating leftovers, determine they are safe to eat. Were they refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking? If not, throw them out. Were the leftovers cooled properly, i.e. turkey and ham sliced into smaller portions and other leftovers cooled quickly in shallow pans less than two inches deep? How long have they been in the refrigerator?

Here's a list of common leftovers and recommended refrigerator storage times:

soups and stews: 3 to 4 days

gravy and meat broth: 1 to 2 days

cooked turkey, meat and meat dishes: 3 to 4 days

cooked poultry dishes: 3 to 4 days

casseroles: 3 to 4 days

luncheon meats: opened package 3 to 5 days; unopened package 2 weeks

pasta and potato salads: 3 to 5 days

Before using leftover food, it's a good idea to check the temperature of the food to make sure that it was refrigerated at or below 40° F. One out of four home refrigerators are too warm. Keep your refrigerator at 36-38° F so the food is held at 40° F or below. Don't pack the refrigerator — cool air must circulate to keep food safe.

It's tempting to throw the plastic container with the leftover food in the microwave to reheat. Unless the container is labeled microwave safe, take the time to put the food on a plate. "Cool Whip," cottage cheese containers, margarine tubs and most plastic storage containers are not heat stable. Chemicals from the plastic may absorb into the food during heating. Microwave plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags, parchment paper, and white microwave-safe paper towels are safe to use. Do not let plastic wrap touch foods during microwaving. Never use thin plastic storage bags, brown paper or plastic grocery bags, newspapers, or aluminum foil in the microwave oven.

Microwaves tend to heat unevenly. Arrange food items evenly in a covered dish and add some liquid if needed. Cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap; loosen or vent the lid or wrap to let steam escape. The moist heat helps destroy harmful bacteria and ensures uniform cooking. Stir or rotate food midway through the microwaving time to eliminate cold spots where harmful bacteria can survive. After reheating food in the microwave, cover and allow food to stand for 2 minutes before eating. Then, use a clean food thermometer to check that food has reached 165° F.

Have you ever found food stuck in the back of the refrigerator and asked, "How long has that been there?" If you don't remember how long it's been there, remember the old adage, "when in doubt, throw it out."